Means for attaching bombs from flying-machines to other objects.



F. A. DUGRO.

MEANS FOR ATTACHING BOMBS mom FLYING mcnmgs TO OTHER OBJECTS.

APPLICATION FILHJ MAY I9. 1915. 1,146,695.

Patented July 13, 1915.

WITNES 8 A TI'ORNE Y8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS A. DUGBO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR ATTACHING BOKBS FBOH FLYING-MACHINES TO OTHER OBJECTS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Francis A. Duqno, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the cityof New York, borough of Manhattan, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Im roved Means for Attachin Bombs from lym Machines to other 0 jects, of which the f0 lowing is a full, clear, and exact description. This invention relates to means for attaching bombs or other devices from flying machines to other objects, and m the application of invention as set forth herein 1t contemplates the attachment of a bomb to the periscope of a submarine from aflymg machine passing thereover. I w1sh 1t be understood, however, that the principal features of the invention are ca able of application to many other suc for. instance, as the discharging or de ivermg of parcels or written messages either from one flying machine to the other or from a flying machine to any other object which may be projected into or adjacent the path of the machine.

. More definitely stated, the invention contemplates primarily. the equipment, of a flying machine with means associated with a bomb .or like ex losive device, such means being extended ar enou below the usual lines of the machine an having suflicient width or scope to make it feasible and practical for a portion of the downwsrmy projecting means to engage over the u per end of the periscope of s. submarine ei er as it projects above the surface of the water or at any reasonable depth below the surface, such means engaging with the periscope serving to automatical y free the bomb and the attaching means from the flying machine allowing the latter to continue in its course while the bomb will be in position to explode and destroy the submarine.

The foregoing and man other objectefot the invention will hereina ter be mine fully described and claimed and illustrated in-the drawings forming a part of this specifics tion in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which-'- Figure 1 isa front elevation of a standard type of biplane equipped with my improve- Speettloation of Letters latent. Application filed lay 18, 1915. Serial No. 89,100.

Patented July 13, 1915.

ment; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of parts of the device as seen from the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a diagram indicating the relation of the flying machine to the submarine just prior to the attachment of a bomb to the utter; and Fig. 5 is a modification of means for giving the bomb a rearward impulse at the time it is delivered from the aeroplane.

The several parts of this device may be made of any suitable materials, and the relative'sizes and proportions. of the same, as well as the general desi of the mechanism may be varied to a considerable extent without departing from the spirit of the invention hereina ter more fully described and claimed. a

At any convenient point along the lower portionof the frame 10 of a flying machine is secured a frame or casing 11 adapted to support one or more explosive devices or bombs 12 as upon a bottom or plate 13 shown herein as a apted to swing. downwardly around the hinge 14: when a catch 15 is withdrawn releasing the bottom 13 from its normal horizontal position with respect to the casing 11.

At points 16 well spaced laterally from each other on op osite sides of the longitudinal center of t e machine are rigid stationary brackets to each of which a oint 17 is pivoted on a horizontal axis 18 parallel to the direction of flight of the machine, and to the lower-end of the joint 17 is pivoted a holder 19 upon a ivot 18' extending transversely of or at rig t angles to the pivot 18. The holder 19, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, is preferably of tubular form and provided along its inner side with a slot 20 having an open bottom. 1 Each of the holders 19 has a wire or other similar connection 21 leading from the lower end-thereof laterally and upwardly to the frame of the machine either at its end or at some other point outwardly from the holder, said connection servin to normally resist any tendency of the ho der to swing inwardly toward the longitudinal center of the machine around the pivot 18. Any suitable resilient means, such as a spring 28, may cooperate with the joint 17 or other part of the holder mechamay have a turn buckle 25 for adjusting or vertical; centr varying the degree of tension thereof for ordinary pur oses.

The foregoing specific description of each holder 19 and its connections will be understood as bein applicable to both of them.

Any suitab e means as, for instance, a line 19, may be provided to enable the aviator to control the position of the holders 19 and arts intended to be supported thereby. v As indicated, for instance, in Fig. 4,:the holders are shown as folded upinto a substantially horizontal plane beneath the body of the machine and are adapted to be released so as to swing into a pendent position whenever desired.

At 26 I show a rod or staff of any suitable length carried normally by or within a holder 19' but adapted to be dropped or pulled therefrom inaccordance with the scheme of the invention. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper end of each rod 26 is fitted slidably in the hollow holder 19 and has a finger 27' projectin laterally therefrom through the' slot'20. aid finger serves several important purposes, among which is to constitute a point of connectionaat 27 for a 'chain'28 'or an esiuivalent flexible connection leading inwar ly to-or toward the bomb. Another function of the finger 27 is to serve as means e06 erating with atleaf spring 29 or its equiva ent carried by the upper'end of the holder 19 to retain the rod within the holder under normal conditions but permittin the same to be withdrawn downwardly t erefrom when intended. Another chain or equivalent flexible connection 30 leads from the point 81 at the'lower end of the bar inwardly toward the central vertical plane of the machine 'or-all the way across to the corresponding oint of the other bar. The chains 28 an 80 are held substantially gether with the 'twoparallel -normally .ver-

ticalj'bais' 26, constitute, a parallelogram of anthe' upper with ,cd asmavescility while the machine -.the machine is an operation.

parallel to each other by a a connection 32 and they, to-' term chain as used hereinafter will be understoodas being of broad enough interretation to cover any suitable form of flexile connection whether wire, wire cable, or the like.

The catch 15 above referred to may be provided with a line 36 leading over a directionfulle 37 carried upon a bracket 38 secure to t e casing 11 or other suitable rigid or stationary part of the flying machine. The opposite end of the line 36 is preferably connected then to one of the chains 28 at a point below or adjacent the casing 11. The upper end of the chain 32 is secured to the bomb 12 and the intermediate portion of the chain 32 may be connected rigidly or loosely to the transverse chain 28 at the point 39.

The operation of the device may be briefly described as follows-With the flying machine e nipped as described, the aviator upon sig itin the eriscope may sail toward the same wit. the ars 26 depending, as indicated in Fig. 1, and thereby he will cause the noose formed by the bars and transverse chains to engage the periscope. Even though the lower portion of the noose may engagethe water, it will be maintained in engaging position by the action of the bars an springs cooperating with the holders 19. The contact between any .part of the chain 30 and eriscope will cause the noose to be ulled immediately downwardly from the iolders 19, the springs 29being practically only strong enough to carry the noose while It follows, therefore, that as the noose engages over the .periscope, the first efi'ect following the de- .-wil1have passed onward out of t e way of danger. I

Any; suitable means may be rovided ,either for automatic firin of the omb or for the firing thereof un er the immediate control of the aviator, dcpendin upon the individual conditions. Ordinari y it is important that the bomb may not be fired until it is released from the flying machine, and hence, as a suggestion of practical means for carrying out this feature of the invention, I show .ati40 a fuse connected to the -bomb,andJeadingtherefrom is a line 41 :connecteddothmf rameo f the machine or .other-Jixed= goint. As, the bomb leaves the machine un er the operationialready set 'iss'ailing.tlirough" the air,'-' 'Eacho'f-hthen forth, it avillautomatically set up' a 'pull "chainsbtdand82niaybeprovided with a -.-upon.the,1ine,',4 1 withthe resultthat atime I coil spring connection 85, if desired. The

fuse of any suitablenature' may be set in 1,14e,ees

oper'ationso that after the lapse of a predetermined will take place.

A series of'grapples 42 of an suitable na= ture may be connected to the ower ends ofthe bars 26 or any of the chains so as to increase the likelihood of engagement of the noose with the object to be attacked or to which the device is to-be attached.

That portion 32' of the chain 32 which is connected to the bomb is preferably extended up within the reach of the aviator and is made adjustable as to its length between the noose and the bomb, whereby the time elapsing between the moment ofengagement between the noose and the erisco e and the time of contact between t e bom and the submarine may be varied, or, under certam conditions, it is desirable to regulate the distance of the bomb at the time of its explosion from the periscope.

As indicated at 12', Fig. 2, the bomb may be acted upon by a rin of any suitable nature which is lace un er suflicmnt compression and so eld by the bomb while in.

normal position on the machine to give the bomb a pronounced rearward impulse at the time it is tripped from the aeroplane and whereby the s ock or strain up)? the noose incident to the inertia of the mb will be cou eracted. The shell 11 may be provided Wit... a lug 11 against which the opposite end of the bomb rests so'as to maintain the ring under compression. When. however, the catch 15 is pulled, the plate 13 drcaps away, setting the bomb free as above escribed. As an alternative means for giv ng the bomb an impulse, it may be came within a casing 11 be carried a small charge of some explos ve material 12" adapted to be 1 itedpr exloded by any suitable means or giving the bomb a rearward impulse for the purpose just described.

iny suitable means may be provided to S 0 rigi members 26 cm the holders 19 during the maneuvering of the aero lane or at such times when it is not inten ed for the noose and the bomb to be delivered. As an indication of suitable means for this u rpose I show a pin 29 which ma be u in connection wit either of the ho ders 19 and cooperating with the flexible fingers 29 to prevent them from allowing the ins 27 from downward displacement. A ine 29' may run from the pin 29' within reach of the aviator so that when he wishes to prepare to throw the bomb, he may withdraw the pins 29' at which time the noose will be detachably supported upon the fingers. If found necessary or desirable, any suitable means may be provided in connection with the noose to grip or grapple upon the perinumber of seconds the explosion move in one end of which may ard the dropfping downwardly of the scope to prevent slipping of the noose thercfrom.

I claim 1.- T,he combination with-a flyin machine, of.a temporary support for a bom thereon, a lateral X and downwardl projecting noose connects tothe bomb, an means to set free the temporarysupport to release the bomb when the noose is engaged over a relatively stationary object."

2. The combination with a flying machine, of a pair of laterally spaced holders secured thereto, means to support a bomb upon the machine between the holders, a downwardly and laterally extending noose connected to the bomb, and means detachably securing the noose to said holders, substantially as set forth.

3'. The combination with a flying ma chine and means carried'thereb to support a bomb at approximatel the ion 'tudinal center of the machine, 0 a pair 0 holders spaced laterally on op osite sides of said center, a pair of rigi members slidably supported upon and dependin from the ho ers, chains extendin inwar 1y from the upper and lower ends 0 each rig1d member toward the center aforesaid means connecting the inner portions of the chains to the bomb, and temporary holding means for the r1g1d members allowing the same to separate freely from the holders when a relatively stationary ob'ect is engaged thereby.

4. The com ination with a flyingmachine, of means aplproximatel in the central vertical plane t ereof for olding a bomb, said holdin means including a plate adapted to ownwardly, a catch normally holding said plate in a horizontal holding position, a downwardly and laterally pro ecting noose below the machine, means connecting the noose to the bomb, and means extending between the noose and the catch to cause the catch to release and drop the bomb when the noose engages over a relatively stationary obLect.

T e combination with a flying machine and means carried thereby to support the device to be delivered therefrom, of a pair of tubular holders connected at laterally spaced points on opposite sides of the center 0 the machine, a pair of rigid members telesco d at their upper ends in said holders an detachably connected thereto, chains extendm inwardly from each rigid member tow ar the other, means connecting said chains with said device means to cause the r1g1d members and said chains to be withdrawn from the holders when en aged over a relativel stationary ob'ect, and means to release sai device from t e machine immedlately thereafter, allowing the machine to proceed on its way.

8. The combination with a flying machine and a sugport carried thereby includin a downwar y movable plate, of releasa le means normally holding the plate in horizontal position to support a bomb thereon, a noose projecting downwardly and laterally with respect to said bomb support, means connected between the noose and the'catch to release the same when the noose is engaged over a relatively stationary object 1,14a,eoa

whereby the bomb is allowed to drop from 10 the plate, and means extending from the hem to the maohine to initiate the firin thereof as a resiilt of the dropping thereo from the machine.

- FRANCIS A. DUGRO.

Witnesses:'

GEO. L. BEELER, Pmrgr D. Ron'mnns. 

